Edging-machine.



A. E. MAYNARD.

. EDGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuLv I4, |914.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

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ALBERT E. MAYNARD, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN OPTICAL COMPANY, OF SOUTI-IBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY ASSOCIA- TION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

EDGrING-MACHINE.

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Patented Aug. 299, 191.06.

Application-filed July 14, 1914. Serial No. 851,019.-

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT E. MAYNARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Edging-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in edging machines, and has particular reference to a novel and improved construction of spindle adapted for use in securing the lenses in position and causing the rotation thereof.

The leading object of my invention is the provision of a spindle of this type which may be readily adjusted to accommodate one or a plurality of lenses as may be desired.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved unitary spindle construction for a lens edging machine which shall be simple, compact and durable, while permitting of ready replacement of the parts when necessary.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of this nature in which air pressure is employed to retain the parts in adjusted position thus rendering the use of springs unnecessary.

Other objects and advantages of my improvement should be readily apparent by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in the specific details of construction shown and described within the scope of the appended claim without departing from or exceeding the spirit of my invention.

Figure I represents a front view of my device applied in position to an edging machine and illustrating the spindle as an entirety in outwardly adjusted position with the lens engaging member set in its inner position. Fig. II represents a view with the main portions in the same position as illustrated in Fig. I but with the lens engaging member set to receive a larger number of lenses. Fig. III represents an enlarged detail view of the spindle removed. Fig. IV represents a longitudinal sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. III. Fig. V represents a fragmentary view illustrating a slightly modied construction.

In the drawings, in which similar characters of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 designates the U-shaped frame member having the bearings 2 and 3 for lens holding spindles. I have illustrated one of these spindles 4 as held for rotative but against longitudinal movement, while the opposite spindle is mounted for both rotative and longitudinal movement.

Each of the lens holding spindles has mounted thereon a gear 5 meshing with a pinion 6 on the driven shaft 7 It is to be noted that the pinion 6 at the left hand side of the machine is sufficiently long so that the gear 5 at that side may slide back and forth with its spindle without being shifted out of mesh with the pinion.

rllhe exact details of construction of my spindle will probably be best understood by reference to Fig. IV, from which it will be seen that my improved adjustable spindle comprises a body portion 8 bearing thereon intermediate its length the collar 9 and having the portion 10 extending inwardly from the collar. A thrust bearing 11 bears against the outer face of the collar while rotatably mounted on the portion 8 of the spindle with one end engaging the thrust bearing is the sleeve 12 having the rack piece 13 adapted to mesh with an adjusting pinion 14, said pinion 14 being suitably actuated to force the sleeve and thus the other parts of the spindle inward into clamping position. Slidably mounted upon the portion 10 of the spindle is a sleeve 15 having a reduced outer portion 16, on which is screwed the lens clamping member 17. This sleeve has a J-shaped slot formedrthereinpomprising a longer portion/'18 and a shorter portion 19. a pin 20 being carried by the portion 10 of the spindle and riding in the said slot, to permit of longitudinal adjusting movement of the sleeve 15 on the spindle, while preventing accidental rotation and limiting the amount of said longitudinal adjustment. The sleeve 15 makes a tight fit with the portion 10, providing a tight chamber 21 at the outer portion of the sleeve, a film of oil or the like being preferably provided between the sleeve and spindle portion 10 and serving as a seal for the chamber 21.

In the use of my invention, when it is desired to clamp but one or two lenses Within the machine I set the spindle as shown in Fig. III, with the pin engaged in the shorter portion 19 of the slot. This serves to hold the lens engaging member 17 in innermost position to satisfactorily clamp the lens against the retaining member on the spindle 4 under the correct pressure. When I wish to clamp a greater number of lenses between the spindles I move the sleeve 15 inwardly, then partially rotate the same and slide it outwardly again, the pin then being moved to the end of the longest slot portion 18. This secures an additional separation of the lens engaging members of the two spindles without in the slightest varying the tension or pressure which serves to retain the lenses in position. It is to be understood that while I have illustrated my device with but two adjustments, this may be varied as desired, and any number of adjustments provided within practical limits.

One of the great advantages attained by my construction is that by the use of the same I am able to instantaneously adjust my machine to accommodate any desired A, number of lenses and to clamp the 'same with an equal pressure in place of a single4 lens being veryloosely clamped and a large number of lenses being' so tightly clamped as to render breakage thereof liable, as has been the case with most types of machines and holding spindles hitherto employed. A further advantage attained by my improvement is that the chamber 21 serves as dash pot, and on account of the substantially air tight fit between' the sleeve 15 and the spindle 10 inward'movement serves to decrease the pressure within the chamber 10 and consequently the greater outside pressure tends to spring the sleeve outward and thus to force the pin into either the slot 18 or slot 19, according to the adjustment thereof, and renders the parts less liable to get out of correct operating position, and at the same time obviates the necessity for the use of springs or the like for retaining the parts in their correct position.

I claim:

In a lens edging machine, the combination with a lens carriage, of a pair of spindle sections rotatably mounted in the carriage in axial alinement one with the other, a lens engaging pad carried by one of said spindle sections for retaining a lens in position, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the other of said spindle sections, a second lens clamp pad carried by the sleeve at its inner end, the said sleeve having diverging slots formed therein, the said slots being of unequal length, and a pin carried by the spindle and extending into the slotted sleeve to secure the sleeve on the spindle, the sleeve being mounted for rotative movement whereby the pin may be positioned in either of the slots as desired to vary the combined length of the sleeve and spindle while the pin serves to lock the sleeve to rotate with the spindle at any adjusted position thereof, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In ltestimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT E. MAYNARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forv ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

